no good / no use
Here's another sentence taken from an exercise:
"She informed me it was no ...... arguing with her and I should have read the sign, an almost invisible piece of card saying 'X-rays' just in front of her".

I'd say "use", "it was no use arguing with her", but the official answer is "good". Aren't they more or less equivalent?

Question

no good / no use
Here's another sentence taken from an exercise:
"She informed me it was no ...... arguing with her and I should have read the sign, an almost invisible piece of card saying 'X-rays' just in front of her".

I'd say "use", "it was no use arguing with her", but the official answer is "good". Aren't they more or less equivalent?

Answer

"No good" is correct.
Look at the reason why it is no good. It is no good arguing, because he failed to read the sign in the first place.
It would be no use arguing because he wouldn't win the argument anyway.
The reasons given are different in both cases. Take a closer look.

Answer

While the idea of the statement would be understood, "good" is probably the better choice. This is because, "no use" is usually followed by the preposition "in." For example:

If it is going to rain, there is no use in washing her car.

I hope this helps!

Answers · 2

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